Kurtis Blow

An amazing gospel freestyle over Kanye West's smash single "Jesus Walks," plus discussions and revelations about hip hop history, music and culture by a man who was present at the creation.

Kurtis Blow is a pioneer, statesman and historian of hip hop music and culture. On Charlie Ahearn's Yes Yes Y'all hip hop hour, Kurtis tells how it felt to be the first rap star after the release of "The Breaks" in 1980. He went on tour with Russell Simmons' Def Jam Records in a tour that included Whodini, Run DMC, The Fat Boys and Newcleus. Later hits such include "AJ Scratch" and "If I Ruled The World" which was later covered by Nas. Kurtis also reveals his story of how a Bronx B-boy worked himself up through the disco-fied rap scene to his founding of The Hip Hop Church. Recently Charlie witnessed Kurtis MC-ing and DJ-ing for a packed congregation at Greater Hood Memorial AME Zion Church where the spirit moved some people to shout "Word!" and others to breakdance in the aisles.

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Charlie Ahearn, a key figure in the hip-hop and DJ scenes, director of the movie Wild Style, and co-author of the book Yes Yes Y'All, invites hip-hop, DJ, and dance world elites to talk history and music.